The Body in the Gravel

by Judi Lynn

  Ansel poured coffee for everyone, and when Bain opened his mouth to speak, Ansel shook his head. “Unless it’s happy, keep it to yourself. This is our pre-wedding supper. It’s supposed to be a celebration.”

  Bain and his father sulked, eating silently. Everyone else had a good time. When the meal was finished, and they started work on cleanup, Bain and Dalmar stood, arms crossed over their chests, watching them. Obviously, rinsing dishes and loading the dishwasher were beneath them.

  When the kitchen shone, Bain pointed to the stainless-steel countertops. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

  “Restaurant kitchens have a lot of stainless steel,” Ansel said. “We like to cook, so we thought we’d try it, too.”

  “Not on the kitchen island?” Henry asked.

  Ansel looked proud when he studied its butcher-block top. “We use it as a buffet when Jazzi’s family comes on Sundays.”

  “How many people?” Bain asked.

  “Usually fifteen.” Jazzi nodded to the farm table. “It has lots of leaves. And we have a second table we add on the side. So far, we can seat everyone in one place.”

  “Even if they pitch in, that has to get expensive.” Bain shook his head.

  Jazzi wasn’t about to argue with him about the price of food. “We manage. My mom and sister don’t like to cook, so they’re happy I do.”

  Britt wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like to cook either, but we can’t afford to eat out all the time.”

  “We never eat out,” Radley added.

  “I like good, simple food that sticks to your ribs. I don’t need anything fancy,” Dalmar said.

  Ansel glanced at the clock. “We had a late supper. Why don’t we get comfortable in the living room? Would you like to rent a movie tonight or just sit around and visit?”

  Bain’s frown returned. “Dad and I had to get up early to milk this morning, and it was a long drive here. I could use an early night.”

  Radley rolled his eyes. “I got up early, too. Milked, too, but I’d like to stay up a while and visit.”

  “Suit yourself. Don’t wake us when you come to bed,” Dalmar warned.

  They walked through the living room, and Bain shook his head. “Who needs four couches in one room? How many parties do you throw here?”

  “The room’s too big for one setting,” Ansel said. “So we made two groupings. And we use them, too.”

  Radley eyed the second group and said, “They look comfortable.”

  “If you’d rather sleep down here, I’ll get you some blankets and a pillow,” Jazzi offered. “Then you don’t have to worry about making noise when you go upstairs.”

  “Thanks, I’ll take you up on that.”

  Dalmar snapped his fingers at Britt. “You coming?”

  Jazzi stared at him, shocked. What did he think his wife was—a trained dog?

  Britt looked torn but went to follow him to bed.

  Radley shook his head. “For Mom, what Dad says goes. Too bad. She’d have liked talking with us.”

  “Her choice.” Ansel’s voice held little sympathy. He went for another round of beer. “Now that they’re gone, let’s enjoy ourselves.”

  Radley grinned and held out his beer bottle for them all to clink together. “Who’d have thought? Our little brother beat us to the altar. Way to go, bro!”

  Jazzi sipped her second glass of wine and felt herself relax. They’d survived the night. Tomorrow, they’d be too busy, making the last of the food, to argue. Then her family would come. Lord help Bain and Dalmar if they tried to get a word in edgewise then. And after that, they’d leave. Good riddance.

  Chapter 47

  Sunday morning turned out crisp and sunny. Jazzi had taken three loaves of tea breads out to thaw the night before—zucchini, banana-nut, and blueberry lemon. Along with boiled eggs, juice, and coffee, she figured that would do for breakfast. She and Ansel had gotten up especially early to start cooking for the reception, but Bain and Dalmar were already in the living room, reading the morning paper, when they came down. Radley must have decided to sleep upstairs because the second set of couches was empty.

  The cats had started down the stairs with them, saw the two men, and turned around to go back to the bedroom.

  His dad looked at Ansel, carrying the dog. “Mutt can’t walk?”

  “Stairs make him nervous.” Ansel gently set George on the floor.

  Bain glanced at his watch. “You used to be an early riser.”

  “I don’t have to milk cows anymore.” Ansel started to the kitchen. “Want some coffee?” They’d set the timer for it to start last night.

  “Wouldn’t mind.” His dad didn’t get up. Neither did Bain.

  Jazzi mumbled insults inside her mind but went to fetch coffee for them. They’d leave after the wedding today. She might never see them again—if she was lucky. “I put some things out for breakfast if you’re hungry.”

  “Yeah, we saw them. We made ourselves some eggs,” Bain called.

  Yes, yes, they did. The dirty pans and dishes were in the sink to prove it. Bacon grease slicked the inside of the nonstick skillet. She looked in the refrigerator. Luckily, there was enough bacon left to make the crab and bacon endive boats. Jazzi bit her bottom lip to keep quiet. She wanted this day to be pleasant. Ansel poured two mugs of coffee, and she took them to their guests.

  When she returned to the kitchen, the cats had slunk downstairs to twine around her ankles. They’d disappear again after she fed them. Last night, Inky had tried to beg at the table, and Dalmar had swatted him away. Inky glared at him as he disappeared into the laundry room. There was no love lost between the cats and Dalmar or Bain.

  Ansel cleaned the dirty dishes while she took out ingredients to start cooking. First, she’d make the toppings for the bruschetta and put the three bowls in the refrigerator. She’d assemble everything later. After that, Ansel cooked and crumbled bacon while she started the crab filling for the endive. When that was finished, it went in the fridge, too. Ansel came to help her with the shrimp-pineapple topping for the mini-flatbreads. They were making great progress when Adda, Henry, and Radley joined them in the kitchen. They were happy enough with the tea breads and boiled eggs and settled at the farm table to enjoy them.

  Jazzi and Ansel stopped working long enough to eat with them.

  “Did you sleep well?” Jazzi asked.

  “Like a baby.” Adda buttered another slice of zucchini bread. “The bed in that room is so comfortable.”

  Jazzi looked at Radley. “How did you do on the air mattress?”

  “It’s bigger than my twin bed at home. Bain and I moved into the house Grandma and Grandpa used to live in, and Mom and Dad let me take the bed I used as a kid. This makes me think it’s time to buy something new.”

  Ansel laughed. “That bed has to be about as old as you are. I’m surprised the mattress is still alive.”

  “I don’t have a problem with mine,” Bain called from the living room.

  Radley made a face at him. Bain couldn’t see it from the other room, but it amused Jazzi.

  “My feet hang over the end of the bed,” Radley complained. “I wake up feeling like a pretzel. I peeked in your room when I was upstairs. What size is your bed? It looked like it was long enough for Ansel.”

  “It’s king size,” he said. “If I slant myself a little, I have plenty of space.”

  “I peeked in, too,” Dalmar called. “You sleeping in a pink room now, boy?”

  Did Ansel’s dad ever know when to shut up? But his question amused Ansel.

  “I sure am. I’m getting in touch with my feminine side.”

  Radley stifled a laugh, but his dad gave a huff of disapproval. The calling back and forth must have woken Britt. She came downstairs to join them. She wore a pair of faded black slacks and a tan turtleneck with stains. Ansel r
ose to take her a mug of coffee while she settled at the table with them. Dark circles smudged her eyes.

  Jazzi frowned, concerned. “How did you sleep? All right?”

  “Your bed was wonderful, but I have trouble sleeping when I’m in new places. Too much stimulation. My mind turns on, and I dither over too many thoughts.”

  She was probably counting all the reasons she should never have married Dalmar.

  Dalmar grunted. “You’ve never had too many thoughts in your life. You are good at dithering, though.”

  Jazzi turned to stare at the back of the man’s head. Would it kill him to say something nice to his wife? If she threw a boiled egg at his head from here, would she hit him?

  Britt looked embarrassed but shrugged. “I’m sorry I slept so late.”

  “Glad you did,” Jazzi said. “We want you to enjoy yourself here.”

  Radley motioned to the array of ingredients spread out on the kitchen island. “Looks like you’re making enough for an army today.”

  Ansel pushed his plate away. He’d tried one slice of each bread and gone for seconds of the blueberry lemon. The man had a thing for berries. “You haven’t met Jazzi’s family. Not one person gains weight, but they all eat like horses. They’ll descend like locusts, and there won’t be a leftover in sight.”

  Jazzi laughed. That was a fair description of their Sunday meals. “I have two really good friends coming, too—Reuben and Isabelle. Reuben used to live in the apartment above mine when I rented a house in West Central.”

  Ansel gave a worried glance at the other room and said, “Reuben’s a black man, married to a white woman. They invited us to their wedding. We’re lucky to call them friends.”

  His dad came to stand in the archway to stare at him. “Is that common here?”

  “Sure is, and it works out just fine.” Ansel waited.

  His dad’s lips pressed into a flat line. “You don’t expect us to talk to them, do you?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t. I like them. If you insult them, I won’t be happy about it.”

  His dad’s eyes flashed ice cold, and he turned on his heel to return to the living room.

  Radley shook his head and stood. “Well, it’s about time for me to rinse my plate and pitch in if you need me.”

  “We’re in good shape.” Jazzi stood, too. “We bought lots of magazines you can read if you want to, or you can watch TV, or…”

  “What if I take you and anyone else who’s interested for a ride around town, so you can see River Bluffs?” Henry asked. “Jazzi offered me the keys to her pickup.”

  “Good idea.” Radley glanced into the living room. “You two coming?”

  “No need to,” Bain called. “No desire to spend time here. After we finish the paper, we’ll take a walk to stretch our legs.”

  The sooner, the better. But Jazzi politely kept her opinion to herself.

  “Mom?” Henry looked at Britt.

  She went to get her jacket. “River Bluffs is a bigger city than I thought. I’d like to see it.”

  Adda stayed in the kitchen to help out. “What can I do?”

  “What if you and I work on the mini crab cakes together?” Jazzi went to get the lump crab meat out of the refrigerator. When she opened the door, Adda spotted the chocolate-covered strawberries inside.

  “I love those!” she cried.

  “I didn’t make them,” Jazzi admitted. “I bought them at DeBrand’s.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A premier chocolate shop. You wouldn’t believe how good their s’mores are. Homemade chocolate and marshmallow. I could eat a tray of them.”

  “Sometime, if Henry and I come to visit again, can we go there?”

  “You can talk me into DeBrand’s anytime,” Jazzi told her.

  They got busy on the crab while Ansel massaged a rub into the tenderloins and left them out to reach room temperature.

  “What next?” Adda asked. “This is fun. I’ve never made any of this before.”

  “Stuffed mushrooms. My family loves them.”

  By twelve-thirty, all of the food was ready to go. It would take only minutes to assemble it and put it on the kitchen island. Dalmar and Bain had stared as they walked past the trays of dips and chips as they left the house for their walk. She and Ansel had made those ahead of time.

  “Do you people eat anything normal?” Bain growled.

  Jazzi glanced at platter after platter, waiting for food to be placed on them. “Lots of times, but not today. We’re going all out for our wedding.”

  Dalmar grumbled, “You people have more money than good sense. You could have bought a new lawn mower for what you spent on this.”

  Ansel answered, “Luckily, we didn’t have to choose.”

  Bain slammed the door as they left, and Ansel shook his head. He asked Adda, “Do you think they’ll enjoy the wedding at all, or did they just come to grump about everything?”

  “They wanted to see where you live and what you were doing with yourself. It annoys them that you’re doing better than they are.”

  “What happened on the farm? We were doing all right when I was at home.”

  “Milk prices dropped, and the need for a lot of repairs hit them all at the same time. They’ll get past it, but it’s tight right now.”

  “I don’t wish anything bad on them,” he said, “but I wish they could be happy for me.”

  “You know better than that. But Mom, Radley, and I are thrilled you’re doing so well. Henry and I plan to hit you up once in a while for a weekend in the big city.”

  He laughed. “Anytime. Jazzi was already talking about that.”

  Adda came to hug her. “You make a great sister, but now you’d better go upstairs and get pretty. Ansel can hardly wait to put that ring on your finger.”

  With a smile, Jazzi ran up the steps. Cyn and Olivia would be here soon to do her hair and makeup. Ansel had bought a suit for the occasion. He hadn’t let her see it. “If you can hide your wedding gown, I can keep my secrets, too.”

  She’d changed into the dress by the time her sister knocked and stepped into the room. Cyn came in behind her. Olivia gave a long sigh. “You look beautiful.”

  “You haven’t fixed me up yet.”

  “That will make you even more beautiful.” Olivia was wearing a rose-colored, form-fitting dress. Her heels matched. She looked as stylish as always, but she grimaced. “Maybe watching you two tie the knot will put Thane in the mood.”

  Jazzi turned to her in surprise. “Are you ready to get married?”

  “I have to pretend that I’m in no hurry so that I don’t scare Thane away, but I’m ready to make that man mine. I always have to do the nudging, though. Thane’s not like Ansel, begging me to say yes.”

  “Ansel didn’t beg.”

  “No, he nagged. Same thing.” Olivia pouted.

  “Maybe he thinks you don’t want to rush things,” Cyn said.

  “Maybe, but I’m going to hint that I’d like to walk down the aisle someday soon.”

  Jazzi suspected that’s all it would take. Thane was crazy about her sister. Olivia frowned at Jazzi’s hair. “Okay, time to get down to business. You have so much hair, it’s going to take a while to do an updo.”

  Jazzi heard footsteps walk down the hallway to the two bedrooms on the end. Ansel’s family must be getting ready now, too. She wondered where Ansel had gone to get dressed. Probably the laundry room.

  At ten till two, her mom kissed her cheek and said, “Knock ’em dead.” Then she and Olivia went down to take their seats. Jazzi stared at herself in the full-length bathroom mirror. For once in her life, she felt beautiful. At two, the violinist they’d hired began playing the wedding march. Jazzi took a deep breath, opened the door, and started down the stairs. The photographer snapped pictures. People smiled up at h
er, but she couldn’t stop looking at Ansel. With his white-blond hair, blue eyes, and golden tan, his black suit and white shirt made him look stunning. The suit was tailored to stretch across his broad shoulders and narrow at his solid torso. There could never be a better-looking groom. Her pulse picked up, and she beamed at him.

  So much happiness flooded her that she felt giddy. The ceremony went by in a blur, and by the time the justice of the peace pronounced them man and wife, she was ready for her kiss. She tilted her face, and Ansel did a thorough job of it. Jerod cheered. So did Thane and Walker. Laughing, she and Ansel walked to the back of the living room and announced, “Let’s party!”

  People hugged them as they made their way to the kitchen. Ansel’s family was the last to congratulate them.

  Radley frowned. “I didn’t see any table for presents.”

  “We didn’t want any,” Jazzi said. “We have everything we need.”

  “Good, because it cost a lot of gas money for us to drive here,” Bain told them.

  “We’re just glad you came.” She knew they were a pain in the neck, but years from now, when they looked back, Ansel would be happy they had been here.

  Corks popped as Jerod and Thane opened bottles of champagne. They’d hired a DJ, and music played while people ate and drank. Ansel introduced his family to Jazzi’s, and even Dalmar and Bain looked like they were enjoying themselves a little. Walker got them talking about his cement business, and Thane yakked with them about furnaces and air-conditioning. As the afternoon wore on, Radley asked how easy it was to find a job in River Bluffs. Thane told him that someone at his company was retiring. They were looking for a new man to train.

  “I’ll put in a good word for you if you’re interested.”

  Radley hesitated, but Britt put a hand on his arm. “If you’d like it here, go for it. Your dad and Bain will survive. They can work longer hours.”

  “Are you just saying that so they don’t have to split their profits with me?”

  She smiled. “They’ll like that, too, but mostly, I want you to be happy.”

  That was all he needed to hear. “Would I make enough to rent a place while I trained?”